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Checkers Strategy
and Tactical Advise
from the Checker Greats
Strategy & Tactical Advise
Checker Great, Asa
Long:
Tactical Advice ~ If you wish to become a master
player or even an expert, you need to learn
one thing, how to "plan" and
not merely live from one move to the next.
Checker Great, Derek Oldbury:
Tactical Advice ~ Strategy and Tactics are terms
commonly used in the game of draughts that have
very different meanings. Wm. F. Ryan, a former
American champion, distinguishes them by noting
that strategy in draughts is the objective or
over all plan of play, whereas tactics are used
to support this objective.
When we are making an over all plan for playing
a game then we are strategically planning our
approach. This might involve planning what squares
we would like to occupy with our pieces, whether
we should move our pieces off our back line,
whether we should encourage or inhibit the exchange
of pieces, etc. In contrast to this we use "tactics" to
achieve these aims by preventing our opponent
from placing his/her pieces on certain squares
through the threat of "shots",
sacrificing a piece to gain an early "king" or
to tie up some of your opponent's pieces with
a lesser number by using blocking tactics.
The adept tactical player uses a large repertoire of
tactical devices in the same way as a wrestler uses
holds and throws. Just like wrestling, checkers players
also have names such as the "Surfboard", "Boston
Crab", "Press", "Fork", "Breech", "Steal" and
others."
Don't be afraid to move your back row pieces.
There's no point in trying to play with eight
pieces if your opponent is using twelve against
you!
A damaging consequence can be that in his
preoccupation with tactics (traps and shots),
a player tends to dim his awareness of strategic
concepts and begins to plan less and less,
seeking only a move which will meet immediate
needs and letting the future take care of itself
which is a dangerous policy.
Checkers Great, Lisle
Cormier:
Tactical Advice ~ Pick your battles carefully.
There simply isn't enough time to fight them
all.
Tactical Advise from,
Louis Ginsberg:
Advice ~ The game of draughts is primarily
a game of strategy. The following ideas are
good strategies to adopt in your play. Try
to obtain at least an equal share of the center
(Squares 14, 15, 18, & 19) but be careful
not to overcrowd the center with too many of
your own pieces.
Domination of squares 18 & 19 for Black
and 14 & 15 for White during the midgame
development gives the player fully 80% scope
and should result in a draw or win in nearly
every game played. Attack you opponents "Double
Corner" when you have the opportunity.
(Squares 1 & 5 and 28 & 32)”
Tactical Advice from, Marion
Tinsley:
Advice ~ It is preferable to break through
the Double Corner side, as a piece that crowns their
can usually emerge more easily than one which reaches
the Single Corner.
Tactical Advice from,
Maurice Chamblee:
Advice ~ Play according to the strength of
your position.
Attack only with the strong side and defend only with the weak side!
In 1911, English checker player and author, Frank
Dunne, published a book on the game called "Draughts,
A Practical Guide to Play Scientific”.
In this book, he listed the following checkers tactical
advise "12
Golden Rules" for playing:
- Never touch a piece until you have made up your mind to move it.
- Never move a piece without a motive.
- Accustom yourself to play slowly.
- Adhere strictly to the laws of the game.
- Compel your opponent to adhere to the laws.
- Play with better players in preference to those you can defeat.
- Take every opportunity to look on when good players are engaged.
- Never touch the squares with your finger when calculating.
- Eschew the habit of incessantly talking during a game.
- Show no impatience with your opponent who may be slow.
- Avoid boasting and talking about your skill.
- Lose with good temper and win with silence and modesty.
I hasten to add that the rules apply to the
experts and beginners alike. In summary, the
following may become the ‘modus
operandi’ for the novice checker
player or even for someone who wants to improve
on game skills:
- Read checkers strategy literature and
study the games of checker masters.
- Study the game with specific goals in mind.
- Utilize study time wisely.
- Keep a journal of positions and strategies.
- Know the rules.
- Understand standard positions.
- Develop a solid knowledge of openings and understand the power of a good beginning and central control.
- Develop strong endgames and balance between offense and defense.
- Develop a personal blueprint of strategies and checker tactics.
- Develop sound cross boards skills.
- Practice with other checker players and masters of the game.
- Practice some more...
- Remember that KNOWLEDGE
IS POWER IN CHECKERS STRATEGY.
So, how about it ...ready for another game of
checkers?
Cool checkerboard tables for checkers greats.
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